Shell-salvaging apparatus



May e, 1924. A 1,492,949

G. ALLISON SHELL sALvAGING APPARATUS INVENTOR v A ATroR1Eys A May 6 1924.

G. ALLISON SHELL SALVAGING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22. 1923 INVENTOR l I aszrcAllzlm A TTORNE YS l Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED 'STATES GUSTAV ALLISON, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIA. SAL- VAGE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'A CORPORATION 'OF NEW YORK.

sHELL-sALvAeINe APrAaATUs.

Application led September 22, 1928. Serial No. 664,221.

To all who/m. z't may cof/wem:

Be it knownthat. I, GUs'rAvE ALLIsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shell- Salvaging Apparatus. (Case No. 6), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shell salvaging apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for removing explosive charges from artillery shells of the higheXplosive type. The apparatus is especially adapted for finally and thoroughly cleaning the inner walls of shell bodies, from which the major portion of the explosive charge has been previously removed, prior to melting down the steel bodies vof the shells in a reduction furnace to recover the metal.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shell salvaging apparatus;

Fig. 2 a plan view of the tiltable shell support or cradle;

Fig. 3 an end view of the shell support or cradle;

Fig. 4 a side elevation of the apparatus, showing the manner of delivering a shell into the cradle, the position into which the cradle and shell are rocked to present the shell for action of the fluid cleansing jet being shown in dotted lines; and

Fig. 5 a view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts during the cleansing operation.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l. designates a platform or Hoor along one edge of which extends a trough 2 or other solution collecting means supported below the level of the platform in any suitable manner. As shown, the trough is held to the platform by brackets 3. Rigidly mounted on platform 1 is a metal frame comprising a base late 4 the front edge of which extends a ong the edge of the platform adjacent trough 2, a pair of vertical standards 5 being secured byrivets 6 to the vertical arms of a pair of angular brackets 7. Suitable fastening screws 8 pass through the horizontal arms of the brackets and the base late 4 and secure the frame firmly to the p atform.

A metallic shell-supporting and holding cradle is rotatably supported substantially midway its ends between the standards 5 no rock about a horizontal axis. As shown, said cradle comprises a longitudinally extending bottom bar or narrow bed 9 formed at one end with an u turned foot 10 extending at a right ang e to the bar 9 and adapted to enga e the rear end or butt of.

a shell body. ubstantially midway the ends of the bar 9 said bar is formed with two integral upwardly curving wings 11 forming with said bar a substantially semi=cylindrical saddle adapted to closely embrace the cylindrical mam body portion of a shell for one half the circumference of the shell. At its forward end thebar is formed with a saddle 12 adapted to extend around or embrace the forward half of the conoidal or tapered nose portion of the shell, said saddle being curved both laterally and longitudinally of the cradle and tapered toward its forward end so as to closely hug the conoidal nose portion of the shell for one-half the circumference of the shell. Y

The wings 11 are formed with laterally extending trunnions 13 journalled in bearings 14 formed at the upper ends of standards 5, and a handle or hand lever 15 is fixed on the outer end of one of said trunnions to permit manual rocking of the cradle from the position shown in full lines in Figs.' 1 and 4 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The cradle is of such length that foot 10 is adapted to engage the base plate 4 to arrest swinging movement of the cradle in one direction with the cradle inclined slightly forwardly and u wardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in full lines, the saddle 12 being adapted to engage the forward edge of the base plate 4 to arrest swinging movement of the cradle in the opposite direction with'the cradle inclined forwardly and downwardly toward trough 2 preferably at a relatively slight angle to the perpendicular as shown in Fig.

5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A bracket 16 held to the frame by screws 29 extends forwardly over trough 2 and the longer straight arm of a rigid, metallic J-shaped Huid-discharge pipe or nozzle 17 passes loosely through an aperture or slide bearing in the projecting end of said bracket 16 and through a slide bearing'or aperture in the laterally extending arm of an angular bracket 18. The laterally extending arm of 5 locate-d at the opposite side of the cradle from handle 15, and said bracket has a relatively long forwardly and downwardly extending arm secured to the forward of bracket 16 and provided with a longitudinal slot 19. The portions of brackets 16 and18 provided with the bearing apertures for pipe 17 lie in planes at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of a shell supported the cradle in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.

4, and the pipe is slidable longitudinally of v the cradle in the bearings in said brackets in a piane passing through trunnions 13 and diametrically through the shell in the 1nverted cradle.

Pipe or nozzle 17 is bent laterally at 17a to a point midway between the planes of the standards 5 and is then bent upwardly to provide a relatively short straight discharge end portion 17b lying in the same inclined plane as the long arm of the pipe and parallel with said long arm of the pipe. The upper end of pipe 17 is screwed into the downwardly facing branch of a T-couphng 20, and the lower end of a solid, angular, rodlike handle 21 is screwed into the upwardly facing branch of said coupling. A flexible fluid supply pipe or hose 22 is connected with the remaining branch of the T-coupling and leads from a source of fluid under pressure, preferably to a source of high pressure steam. The discharge end of pipe 17 is provided with jet orifices 23. A collar 24 is adjustablj, locked on pipe 17, between bracket 16 and the lateral arm of bracket 18, lby a set screw 25. The shank of screw 25 extends through slot 19 in bracket 18 and prevents rotary movement of the J-shaped pipe 17 in its slide bearings and is also adapted to engage the lower end of the slot to arrest downward movement of pipe 17 with its discharge end clear of the nose end of an upended shell in the cradle and the laterally bent portion 17a thereof out of contact with trough 2. The screw 25 is adapted to engage the upper end of slot 19 to arrest upward movement of pipe 17 after discharge portion 17 b thereof enters a short distance within the shell body and before part 17a thereof engages the nose end of the sheil (see Fig. 5). Accidental bending of the lower portion of i the pipe 17 is thus prevented.

The shell bodies 26 vof the high-explosive shells are transported by hand truck 27 to the final wall-cleaning apparatus above described from a suitable unloading means by which most of the amatol, TNT, or similar high-explosive charge has been removed. The rear edge of base plate 4 of the cradle supporting frame is adapted to serve as a chock for the wheels 27a of hand truck 27 for arresting and holding. the wheels against advancing toward the cradle when the truck reaches a point at which the shell 26 may be tilted or dumped over into the cradle by upending the handle end of the truck, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be obvious from Fig. 4 that a shell resting on the truck with its butt end at the usual head-board of the truck may be readily rocked over into the cradle with the butt of the shell seated on the upper flat face of foot 10 of the cradle.

The cradle is then rocked by swinging handle 15 upwardly and forwardly until saddle 12 strikes the forward edge of plate 4 and arrests the cradle and shell with the `\nose end of the shell directed downwardly and overlying trough 2. Handle 21 of nozzle 17 is then ulled upward to draw the discharge end 1 b o f the -shaped nozzle upwardly through the usual threaded adapter ring aperture 28 in the nose of the shell a short distance within the interior of the shell whereupon the high pressure steam issuing from orifices 23 will swirl around within the body of the shell heating and moistening the film or crust of the high explosive charge adhering to the walls of the shell and thoroughly scouring the interior of the shell. The liquefied or dislodged portions of the explosive charge together with the liquid resulting from condensing of the steam will rapidly drain into trough 2 through adapter ring aperture 28 during the scouring operation owing to the fact that the shell is upended nearly to a perpendicular position.

lVhen the shell is thoroughly cleaned, the pipe 17 is lowered and the cradle is rocked back to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the cleaned shell may be readily rocked over` into truck 27 and transported to a reducing furnace or a suitable storage place. The liquid collected in trough 2 may be treated to recover various chemicals therefrom, and the shell bodies may be melted down to recover the steel. In practice a plurality of the shell cleaning devices shown and described vherein would be mounted along trough 2 for handling a number of shells simultaneously.

W-hat I claim is: l

1. In an apparatus for removing explosive material from artillery shells', the cornbination of an upstanding J-shaped nozzle having an outlet at the upper end of the shorter upstanding arm thereof and an inlet at the upper end of the longer upstanding arm thereof, means for slidably supporting the nozzle to move up and down, a flexible steam supply hose connected with the inlet of the nozzle, a shell holder at one side of the `onger upstanding arm of the nozzle and above the outlet of the nozzle, and means for pivotally supporting said holder to swing about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the holder. i

2. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a shell holder pivotally and an inlet at t supported intermediate its endsto 'swing about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the holder, a J-shaped nozzle having an outlet at the u per end of its shorter arm lie upper end of its longer arm, means slidably supporting the nozzle to move up and down in an inclined plane with the longer upstanding arm of the nozzle at one side of the holder and the shorter upstanding arm thereof under the holder, means for swinging the holder to present a shell in axial ali' nment with the shorter arm of the nozzle wlth the nose aperture of the shell above the outlet of the nozzle, means for lifting the nozzle, and means for supplying steam to the inlet of the nozzle.

3. In an a paratus of the class set forth, the combination of a shell holder pivotally supported intermediate its ends tov swing about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the holder, a J-shaped nozzle having an outlet at the upper end of its shorter arm and an inlet at the upper end of its longer arm, means slidably supporting the nozzle to move up and down in an inclined plane with the longer upstanding arm of the nozzle at one side of the holderand the shorter upstanding arm thereof under the holder, means for swinging the holder to present a shell in axial alignment with the shorter arm of the nozzle with the nose aperture of the shell above the outlet of the nozzle, means for lifting the nozzle, means for supplying steam to the inlet of the nozzle, and means engaged by one end of the shell holderV for arresting swinging movement of the shell holder in one direction with a shell therein nose end down in axial alignment with the shorter upstanding arm of the nozzle and engaged by the other endhof the shell holder to arrest the holder with the butt end of the shell directed downwardly.

4. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a shell holder pivotally supported intermediate its ends to swing about a horizontal axis extendin transversely of the holder, a J-sha ed nozz e having an outlet at the upper en of its shorter arm and an inlet at the upper end of its longer arm, means slidably supporting the nozzle to move up and down in an inclined plane with the longer upstanding arm of the nozzle at one side ofthe holder and the shorter upstanding arm thereof under the holder, means for swinging the holder to present a shell in axial alignment with the shorter arm of the nozzle with the nose aperture of the shell above the outlet of the nozzle, means for lifting the nozzle, meansv for supplying steam to the inlet of the nozzle, and means for limiting the upward and downward movements of the nozzle.

5. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a shell holder pivotally supported intermediate its ends to swing arm and an inlet at the upper end of its v longer arm, means slidably supporting the nozzle to move up and down in an inclined plane with the longer upstandin arm of the nozzle at one side of the hol er and the shorter upstanding arm thereof under the holder, means for swinging the holder to present a shell in axial alignment with the shorter arm of the nozzle with the nose aperture of the shell above the outlet of the nozzle, means for lifting the nozzle, means for supplying steam to the inlet of the nozzle, a liquid collectin means below the nozzle, and means for llmiting sliding movement of the nozzle to prevent engagement of the transverse arm of the nozzle with said collecting means and with a shell in the holder. 6. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a floor, a shell holder having an open side for receiving a shell sidewise and having a. foot adapted to engage the base of a shell in the holder, means held to the floor for pivotally supportin the shell holder to rock about a` horizonta axis substantially midway the ends of the holder and at a distance above the floor less than the distance between said pivotal axis and the ends of the holder whereby said holder is rockable between two reversely inclined positions relatively to the floor, a fluid enV pressure discharge nozzle, and means slidv ably supporting said nozzle for movement of its discharge end into and out of the nose opening of a shell in the holder when the holder is rocked to the inclined position thereof in which the foot of the holder is uppermost.

7. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a platform having a floor, a trough extending along one side of the platform and supported below the level of the floor of said platform, a base plate held to the oor with its outer edge at the edge of the platform floor adjacent the trough, a pair of vertical standards held to the base plate adjacent the outer edge of said plate having bearings therein, a shell holder having trunnions midway its ends journalled in said bearings, said shell holder having a foot at one end adapted to be engaged by the but-t end of a shell in the holder and having an open side, said holder being of such length that the foot thereof is adapted to engage the top of the base plate to arrest the holder in upwardly and outwardly inclined shell-receiving position with its open side facing toward the platform while the upper end of the holder is adapted to engage the outer edge of the plate to arrest the holder in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position with the open nose end of a shell in the holder above the trough, a steam dischargenozzle, and means supporting said nozzle over the trough for movement into and out of `the open nose end of a shell up-ended by rocking the upper end of the holder against the base plate.

8. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of a platform having a floor, a trough extending along one side of the platform and supported below the level of the Hoor of said platform, a base plate held to the floor with its outer edge at the edge of the platform floor adjacent the trough, a pair of vertical standards held to the base plate adjacent the outer edge of said plate having bearings therein, a shell holder-having trunnions midway its ends journalled in said bearings, said shell holder having a foot at one end adapted to be engaged by the butt end of a shell in the` holder and having an open side, said holder being of such length that the foot thereof is adapted to engage the top of the base plate to arrest the holder in upwardly and outwardly inclined shell-receiving position with its open side facing toward the platform while the upper end of the holder is adapted to engage the outer edge of the plate to arrest the holder in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position with the open nose end of a shell in the holder above the trough, a steam discharge nozzle, means supporting said nozzle over the trough for movement into and out of the open nose end of a shell up-ended by rocking the upper end of the holder against the base plate, a hand lever fixed on one of the trunnions of the holder for rocking the holder, and a handle attached to the nozzle for shifting the nozzle.

9. In an apparatus of the class set forth,

the .combination of a platform having a meaeae floor, a trough extending along one side of the platform and supported below the level of the floor of said platform, a base plate held to the floor with its outer edge at the edge of the platform floor adjacent the trough, a pair of vertical standards held to the base plateadjacent the outer edge of said plate having bearings therein, a Vshell holder having trunnions midway its ends journalled m said bearings, said shell holder having a foot at one end adapted to be engaged by the butt end of a shell in the holder and having an open side, said holder being of such length that the foot thereof is adapted to engage the top of the base plate to arrest the holder in upwardly and outwardly inclined shell-receiving position with its open side facing toward the platform while the upper end of the holder is adapted to enga-ge the outer edge of the plate to arrest the holder in a downwardly and outwardly inclined position with the 'open nose end of a shell in the holder above the trough, a steam discharge nozzle, means supporting said nozzle over the, trough for movement into and out of the open nose end of a shell 11p-ended by rocking the upper end of the holder against the base plate, a hand lever fixed on one of the trunnions of the holder, for rocking the holder, a handle attached to the nozzle for shifting the nozzle, said base plate having its rear edge located at the rear of the point of contact of the foot ofthe holder therewith and adapted to serve as a chock for the wheels of a hand truck during transfer of a shell to the holder from the truck and from the holder to the truck.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

GUSTAVE ALLISON. 

